Microbes POWER ON

Wonder Woman, Superman, Spiderman, Geobacter – all superheroes! What – you’ve never heard of Geobacter? 

Then it’s time to come along to our Microbes POWER ON workshop, and learn all about this amazing soil bacteria, which “breathes” metal, produces its own “grid connections” and generates electricity, all while breaking down waste, like food scraps and oils. In this all ages workshop (younger people with a little bit of help) you’ll be hands-on, building a microbial fuel cell (MFC) that Geobacter will be able to call home, and that you will be able to take home, and monitor as Geobacter starts making electricity. 

Microbes POWER ON is part of Quantal Bioscience’s Communities for Bioelectrogen Discovery program, where we are aiming to discover Geobacter in the soil, all across Australia. Across three workshops, we’ll be building 60 MFCs, and pitting three properties around Manilla in some friendly competition to discover who has the finest electricity-generating mud in the region. 

You’re guaranteed to get just a little bit muddy, learn a lot of very cool science, including all about how we use DNA fingerprints to find Geobacter, and see at least one (small) explosion – what more could you want from a 1 h workshop?  

Sat. 20 April - 3 workshops.

Adults need to supervise children. 

10am

11.30am

2pm

Soil Microbes POWER On is proudly part of the Renewable Manilla Festival. 19 + 20 April 2024